Scurvy; causes, symptoms and treatment

Know what scurvy is, how to treat it , its causes and symptoms, where it appears.

1. http://www.tpdsm.com/2017/08/scurvy-causes-symptoms-and-treatment.html



Overview:

Scurvy is a disease which refers to vitamin C deficiency. It can lead to anemia, debility, exhaustion,
spontaneous bleeding, pain in the limbs, and especially in the legs, swelling in some parts of the body,
and sometimes ulceration of the gums and loss of teeth.
Scurvy has been associated with sailors and often, when long sea voyages made it hard to get a steady
supply of fresh vegetables produce and fruits .Modern cases of scurvy are rare, especially in places
where enriched breads and cereals are available, but it can still affect people who do not consume
enough vitamin C.

Symptoms:
Vitamin C is a necessary nutrient that helps the body to absorb iron and produce collagen. And if there
is not enough collagen, tissues start breaking down. It is also necessary for synthesizing dopamine
,epinephrine and needed for energy production.

Symptoms of vitamin C deficiency can start to by early signs include
 A loss of appetite
 weight loss
 fatigue
 irritability, and lethargy.
Then it will be followed by signs of:
 Anemia
 gum and loss of teeth
 shortness of breath
 pain, including bone pain

2.  swelling, or edema
 small red spots resulting from bleeding under the skin
 poor wound healing
 mood changes, and depression and during pregnancy can lead to problems with fetal brain
development

Causes and risk factors:
The main cause is an insufficient intake of vitamin C, (ascorbic acid).and because human body cannot
synthesize vitamin C. It needs have it from external sources as fruits and vegetables, or fortified foods.
The insufficient intake may result from:
 a poor diet lacking in fresh fruits and vegetables
 illnesses such as anorexia
 excessive consumption of alcohol and use of illegal drugs
Diagnosis and treatment:
 The Doctor will do a physical exam {analysis}, and request lab tests to assess vitamin C levels in
the blood
 Treatment involves the administration of vitamin C supplements by mouth or by injection.
 Within 24 hours, patients can expect to see an improvement. After 3 months, a complete
recovery is possible
Prevention:
Scurvy can be prevented by consuming enough vitamin C as a supplement. And apply Foods that
contain vitamin C include:
 fruits, such as oranges, lemons, strawberries, blackberries, guava, kiwi fruit, and papaya
 vegetables, especially tomatoes, carrots, bell peppers, broccoli, potatoes, cabbage, and spinach
 Ascorbic acid can be destroyed by heat and during storage, so eating fresh, raw fruit and
vegetables offers the best supply.